Apparatus for the conversion of energy in a flowing stream of fluids



Nov. 7, 1950 w. soulm-zs. JR 2,529,317

APPARATUS FOR THE CONVERSION OF ENERGY IN A FLOWING STREAM 0F FLUIDSFiled Oct. 7, 1948 d O y Cdalter Squires, Jr. Snverzbor YD QO LQ7WObborneg Patented Nov. 7, 1950 APPARATUS FOR THE CONVERSION OF ENERGY INA FLOWING STREAM OF FLUIDS Walter Squires, Jr., Westfield, N. J.,assignor to Standard Oil Development Company, a corporation of DelawareApplication October 7, 1948, Serial No. 53,342

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to apparatus for the conversion of energyin a flowing stream of fluids. More particularly, it relates to the useof a multi-stage centrifugal pump as a fluid motor to drive anotherpump, such as a centrifugal; pump.

It is an object of the invention to provide a means whereby in theprocess of reducing pressure on flowing a stream of high pressure fluid,the major portion of such stream may be employed to raise the pressureof a minor portion of the stream above that of the stream itself,utilizing the energy released in reducing pressure on the major portionof said stream to .drive the multi-stage centrifugal pump as a fluidmotor. Another object of the invention is to provide such apparatus inwhich the need for high pressure seals for a rotating shaft therein, issubstantially eliminated.

An example of an operation in which the use of such apparatus isadvantageous is found in the manufacture of ethyl alcohol synthetically.In such a process, ethylene is first absorbed in concentrated sulphuricacid, under suitable conditions of temperature and pressure, to form anextract comprising a mixture of mono and diethyl sulphates together withsome free acid. A portion of this extract is pumped to the top of anethylene absorption tower in sufficient quantity to produce, when mixedwith feed acid, a fluid of maximum absorptive capacity with minimumcorrosive tendencies. Pressure on the remainder of the extract is thenreduced and the extract diluted with water to hydrolyze the ethylsulphates to alcohol and/or ether. In returning the one portion of theextract to the ethylene absorption tower it is necessary to slightlyincrease its pressure and the pump used for this step is required to beof special construction in order to avoid the tendency for leakagearound the pump shaft, and also to minimize corrosion of parts. The.diffi cultles experienced in an effort to attain such qualificationshave been considerable and have not been satisfactorily overcome. By thepresent invention it is proposed to provide pumping apparatus in whichthe driving shaft is fully contained within the casing elements andeliminating driving means such as electric motors, particularly subjectto the effect of acid leakage such as is normally experienced. At thesame time, the apparatus, according to the invention, provides meanswhereby the energy to be dissipated in reducing pressure on the majorportion of the extract may be gainfully employed to operate the pump forrecycling the minor portion of the extract. Such apparatus may beemployed equally as well in a variety of situations, such as inconjunction with an alkylation process, or any other situation in whichthe problem of leakage is similarly encountered, or where the reductionof pressure on process fluid affords an opportunity of utilizing theenergy dissipated in such fashion, in the manner set forth.

The invention and its objects may be more fully understood from thefollowing specification when read in conjunctionwith the accompanyingdrawing, in which the related elements of the apparatus are shown inside elevation with parts broken away to more clearly illustrateinternal construction.

In the drawing, the numeral I designates the casing of a multi-stagecentrifugal pump and the numeral 2 the casing of a pump, such as asinglestage centrifugal pump, the two pumps having inlets 3 and 4 andoutlets 5 and 6, respectively. Preferably, a common base I is providedfor the pumps I and 2, on which they are disposed in longitudinallyspaced relation, and substantially concentric one with another, withannular end portions to and 2a in opposed relation. A common shaft 8 isprovided for the two pumps. This shaft may be single member or may beformed of two portions joined as by coupling 9. The outer end portionsof this shaft are to be entirely contained within the casings I and 2.If bearing elements are to be provided for the outer ends of the shaft,these are also to be contained within the casings or within some form ofcap structure 8a,

- sealed with reference to the casing. Between the two casings i and 2,is provided a sleeve member ID, the ends of which are secured to andsealed with reference to the end portions Ia and 2a of the respectivecasings, this sleeve, forming a shaft-Way for the shaft 8. As supportsfor the inner portions of the shaft, bearing members II and I 2 areprovided in the shaft-way I0 and seals I3 and I4 are provided around theshaft where it passes through the respective end portions of thecasings. It is to be noted in this connection that only a comparativelysmall pressure difference will exist between the casing I and the casing2. For example, if the fluid supplied to the inlet 3 of the pump I is ata pressure of about 500 pounds per square inch, substantially the samepressure will exist at the inlet 4 of the pump 2, and assuming that apound increase in pressure is to be applied to the fluid leaving theoutlet 6 of pump 2, no more than a 50 pound differential need beprovided against by the seal members I3 and It. If desired, the bearingsII and 12 may be either the apparatus described, is supplied thereto asby way of conduit I5 having branched connections Iia and I5b of whichthe former is connected to the inlet 3 and the latter to the inlet 4 ofpumps I and 2, respectively. Valves I50 and lid are to be provided inthe respective branch lines for the purpose of regulating the supply offluid from the stream of fluids in line I5 which is introduced into therespective pumps by way of inlets 3 and 4. The operation of theapparatus described may be suitably regulated in known fashion so thatthe fluid leaving the outlet'5 of pump I will be at any desired reducedpressure as compared with the fluid entering the inlet 3. Normally, thereduced pressure will be substantially atmospheric. Likewise, thepressure increase on the fluid portion leaving the outlet 6 of pump 2may be regulated, but normally this pressure will be in the rangerequired by the operation in which the pump is used and as determined bythe construction and physical characteristics of the pump 2.

What is claimed is:

Apparatus for the conversion of energy in a high pressure flowing streamof fluids, comprising a pair of independent units, one unit of said pairconsisting of a pump unit and the other unit of said pair consisting ofa fluid motor, each unit being enclosed in a casing provided with aninlet and an outlet, said units being disposed in longitudinally spaced,opposed end relation, and hav- 4 mg the inlet of one unit juxtaposedwith reference to that of the other, shafts of said units extendingthrough the opposed ends of the units and a coupling means joining saidshafts between the units, the opposite ends of said coupled shaftsterminating at points within the said casings, bearings within saidcasings and sealed in fluid tight relation thereto, said opposite endsof said shafts terminating within said bearings, an annular sleeveelement concentric with the shafts extending between the said casingsand said sleeve element being detachably fixed to said casings inpressure tight and fluid tight relation thereto, forming asealedpassageway between the casing for the coupled shafts, a shaft sealand bearing support at each end of said sleeve interiorly there of,conduit means for a stream of high pressure fluid, including a branchconnection communieating with each of the casing inlets, and valvecontrol means in each of said branch connections adapted to divert amajor portion of said stream through the said fluid motor and a minorportion through said pump unit.

WALTER SQUIRES, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 2 Name Date 61,650 Ames Jan. 29, 1867163,652 Harding May 25, 1875 1,132,712 Finn Mar. 30, 1915 1,529,633Nagler Mar. 10, 1925

